I cannot tell you how often I have been asked this question. I just never know how to respond. What is one asking and perhaps more importantly, why is one asking? It seems like a rather unusual question when you really think about it, given that the purpose of a question is to arrive at an answer. How does one answer this question? How does one sum up in a single answer their whole identity? As a hyphened American who grew up in an all white community I have come to understand what this question means when it is asked of me, an inquiry in terms of racial categories. Any other answer will be followed up with a polite rephrasing “Yes, but what really are you?” But am I merely limited to my racial identity?
I understand our proclivity for such categories in a post enlightenment society. Categories “help” to serve as a starting point but with it comes the inherent danger of familiarity that often leads one to make sweeping assumptions. As a society that is obsessed with time, perhaps categories serve as just that, timesavers. But if we stop here we miss out on so much of the wonderful details of each individual, these details that help accessorize a person. Also, the person I was yesterday may not necessarily be the person I am today and today tomorrow as I strive to be more and more like Christ.
So what am I? A follower of Christ yes, but walk with me and let’s find out together what this means for today and for our tomorrows.
(Noun: Follower of Christ, Adj: Korean American, Male, Last of 4, 3 older sister, etc)